BREAKING DOWN 'First Mortgage'

If the loan to value (LTV) ratio of a first mortgage is greater than 80%, lenders generally require private mortgage insurance (PMI). In such a case, it can sometimes be economical for a borrower to limit the size of the first mortgage to an 80% LTV and use secondary financing to borrow the remaining amount needed.

The economics of paying PMI versus using a second loan largely depends on the rate at which a borrower expects the value of his or her home to increase. PMI can be eliminated when the LTV of the first mortgage reaches 78%; however, a second lien, which typically carries a higher interest rate than a first mortgage, must be paid-off, most likely through a refinancing of the first mortgage for an amount equal to the remaining balance of the both the first and second mortgages.